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Author Topic: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)  (Read 158892 times)

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Maxvla

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #1150 on: January 30, 2014, 08:37:09 AM »
You have an auto?
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Anaxilus

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #1151 on: January 31, 2014, 06:50:48 AM »
Quote from: Maxvla on January 30, 2014, 08:37:09 AM
You have an auto?

Yup!  Better mileage, better commutability, better left foot braking, better power handling than the manual (more robust stock versus stock).  My left foot has been for braking  now for many years, not clutch pedals.  Like I said many times, the FRS is my entertaining daily driver, I don't consider it my true sports car though I expect it to thrash quite a few comparable class cars on the street and track once I'm done w/ it.  Hopefully all while maintaining or improving it's MPG advantage.  Honestly, for me now dealing with a clutch pedal again would be like driving a Packard w/a choke.  Unnecessary vestigial distraction that actually hurts function and performance.  I guess it feels like driving the equivalent of a turntable for me.  Time to move on.  I'd really like a HUD in my next car too, might look at adding one.

My MR and maybe a BAC mono will be my 'sports' cars.  Though the Supra concept has my head spinning which is not good.  I expected to be done w/ Toyota and Subaru after this last car.
« Last Edit: January 31, 2014, 07:02:58 AM by Anaxilus »
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shipsupt

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #1152 on: January 31, 2014, 01:37:11 PM »
That guy who was selling the BAC Mono's down the road seems to have gone under... Unfortunately no deep discount going out of business sale, so I guess I won't be returning to the USA with one. 

Manual modes on automatic transmissions (and just automatics in general) are getting so crazy good that the days of manuals may be numbered.  Porsche recently admitted that they could see a day within a decade where they wouldn't produce a manual transmission. Ferrari and Lambo are rapidly eliminating manuals in their line ups.


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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

DaveBSC

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #1153 on: January 31, 2014, 02:02:38 PM »
Electronics on my A6 have gone tango uniform.

Thinking about a 320i xDrive lease. Any thoughts, gents?
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Anaxilus

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #1154 on: January 31, 2014, 06:36:37 PM »
Quote from: DaveBSC on January 31, 2014, 02:02:38 PM
Electronics on my A6 have gone tango uniform.

Thinking about a 320i xDrive lease. Any thoughts, gents?

Sorry to hear that, good to hear feedback from an actual user.  I was thinking you might have got a diamond in the ruff w/ your unit.  I have a lot of complaints with BMW that go away if you decide to lease and are happy w/ the vehicle for your needs.
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Anaxilus

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #1155 on: January 31, 2014, 06:53:46 PM »
Quote from: shipsupt on January 31, 2014, 01:37:11 PM
Manual modes on automatic transmissions (and just automatics in general) are getting so crazy good that the days of manuals may be numbered. 

Dude, the first time I put the FRS in sport mode and did some heavy late braking into a 90 degree right hander at speed, the thing double blipped and downshifted even in auto mode.  I was like, WTFBBQ?! 

The only real issue w/ an auto is the parasitic losses from the torque converter and added weight.  In this case, the auto is only 34lbs heavier than the manual which is very good.  Plus an after market high stall torque converter can turn that into a positive on the drag strip if need be. 

SSP already has parts rolling out for it:
http://www.sspperformance.com/brz-frs-a960e-transmission/brz-frz-transmission-cooler.html?dir=desc&limit=25&mode=list&order=name
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DaveBSC

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #1156 on: January 31, 2014, 07:07:06 PM »
Quote from: Anaxilus on January 31, 2014, 06:36:37 PM
Sorry to hear that, good to hear feedback from an actual user.  I was thinking you might have got a diamond in the ruff w/ your unit.  I have a lot of complaints with BMW that go away if you decide to lease and are happy w/ the vehicle for your needs.

Yeah considering the horror stories I've heard about C5s, mine did fairly well right up until its 10th birthday, but it seems like it's done. Prime requirements right now are AWD, and a good driving position and seats, and at least decent steering. The magazines are saying 6.5 seconds to 60 from the 320i which is good enough, it's actually right around where my 2.7T was anyway, and should do decently better than the 19mpg I was getting. I'm fine with the fixed M-sport suspension setup. Supposedly the EPS system and front suspension have been tweaked for better steering response.

The interior is fine, definitely not amazing, but nothing else in the class is amazing either, and pretty much everything else leases higher, even the Volvo. I've been really impressed by the new C-class at least in pictures, but it's not out yet, and the current C is blah, as is the A4, and the standard A4 seats are park benches. I haven't been in an A4 with the sport seats, but the rest of the interior is really cheap feeling and the car is definitely due for a redesign.
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shipsupt

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #1157 on: January 31, 2014, 07:21:58 PM »
I've driven a bunch of the "newer" beemers as rentals over the past two years and in general I feel like I could be happy with a BMW product. That's just my gut feeling from driving them... I have no idea how they are fairing in reviews etc...   If you can find the model that suits your taste they make plenty of stuff that'll satisfy most.  Good luck on the hunt.. sometimes it's the most fun part of the buying experience!
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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

Anaxilus

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #1158 on: February 01, 2014, 02:09:19 AM »
Quote from: shipsupt on January 31, 2014, 07:21:58 PM
I've driven a bunch of the "newer" beemers as rentals over the past two years and in general I feel like I could be happy with a BMW product. That's just my gut feeling from driving them...

One of my old professors that taught me about transmissions had the most recent M3.  After learning about the complexity of modern BMW ECUs and their logistical support process, I'd still be wary of actual ownership.  Unnecessarily complex and convoluted to say the least.  Think Tiger tank versus T34.  Sometimes the Germans don't understand the beauty and elegance of simplicity.  If an idea pops in their head, it's got to go into something with a motor.

In case you might consider buying after a lease, do VERIFY work which is included in the scheduled maintenance is actually performed.  At the very least check for fresh amber on the dipstick.  This is a known issue w/ many BMW stealerships here. 
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DaveBSC

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #1159 on: February 01, 2014, 07:51:16 PM »
Quote from: Anaxilus on February 01, 2014, 02:09:19 AM
In case you might consider buying after a lease, do VERIFY work which is included in the scheduled maintenance is actually performed.  At the very least check for fresh amber on the dipstick.  This is a known issue w/ many BMW stealerships here.

I'm definitely not planning on buying the car at the end. BMW pays for everything for the first 4 years which makes the car more appealing as a lease than rivals, but part of that is they really push scheduled maintenance intervals as far apart as they can. That's fine for the first owner, and the CPO buyer who comes in at 3 years shouldn't have a problem, but as a long term ownership proposition.. ehh.

I figure once the lease is up, I'll take a very close look at the new C-class, which is supposed to launch Q3 of 14. Mercedes quality has drastically improved in the last few years, but a brand new design still makes me a little nervous. Once the BMW lease is up, the C will have been on sale a few years, which should give them enough time to work out the inevitable bugs.

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